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Helping Verbs Grammar Exercises: Level A2-B1 (with Answers)

⏱ Time: 07:30 📝 Questions: 15 📊 Level: A2, B1 📚 Type: Grammar ⭐ XP: up to +15 (on pass)

The fastest way to learn is from your mistakes. Try these 15 Helping Verbs exercises at Level A2-B1 and read the explanation for every question — especially the ones you get wrong. Each explanation names the specific rule so you know exactly what to review.

⏱ You have 07:30 to answer 15 questions. The timer only starts when you click Begin.

Q1  15
Q1 15

Question 1: She ___ working on the project right now.

Question 1 options
'Is' is correct because it is the auxiliary verb 'be' used with a present participle to form the present continuous tense. 'Are', 'were', and 'was' do not match the third-person singular subject 'she' in the present tense.
Q2 15

Question 2: They ___ not finished their homework yet.

Question 2 options
'Have' is correct because 'have not finished' forms the present perfect tense with a plural subject 'they'. 'Has' is used only with singular subjects, 'did' requires the base form, and 'are' cannot form the present perfect.
Q3 15

Question 3: A helping verb always comes before the main verb in a sentence.

Question 3 options
True because helping verbs (auxiliary and modal verbs) precede the main verb to form a verb phrase, such as 'She is running' or 'He can swim'.
Q4 15

Question 4: What does the helping verb 'must' express in the sentence: 'You must wear a seatbelt'?

Question 4 options
'Must' expresses necessity or obligation. It does not express ability (that is 'can'), permission (that is 'may'), or a future plan (that is 'will').
Q5 15

Question 5: Arrange the words to make a correct sentence:

Question 5 options
  • to London
  • She
  • been
  • has never

Drag items or use arrows to arrange them in the correct order.

The correct order is 'She has never been to London' because the auxiliary verb 'has' comes before the adverb 'never', which is followed by the past participle 'been'.
Q6 15

Question 6: Which sentence is grammatically correct?

Question 6 options
'He does not like spicy food' is correct because 'does' is the auxiliary verb used with third-person singular subjects in negative present simple sentences. 'Do not likes' is wrong because 'likes' should be the base form after 'do not'. 'Does not likes' incorrectly adds -s to the main verb. 'He not like' is missing the auxiliary verb entirely.
Q7 15

Question 7: A: 'Is it okay if I open the window?' B: 'Of course, you ___ open it.' Which helping verb best completes B's response to show permission?

Question 7 options
'May' is correct here because it expresses permission in response to a request. 'Must' expresses obligation, 'should' expresses advice, and 'would' expresses a conditional or polite request, not permission.
Q8 15

Question 8: Which sentence correctly uses 'can' to show ability, not permission?

Question 8 options
'She can speak three languages' correctly uses 'can' to express ability — a skill the subject possesses. The other options use 'can' in contexts of permission or requests, not ability.
Q9 15

Question 9: Put the words in the correct order:

Question 9 options
  • he will pass
  • you think
  • Do
  • the exam?

Drag items or use arrows to arrange them in the correct order.

The correct order is 'Do you think he will pass the exam?' because in a question, the auxiliary 'do' comes first, followed by the subject, then the main verb, then the second auxiliary 'will' with its verb phrase.
Q10 15

Question 10: The meeting starts in ten minutes. We ___ leave now or we will be late.

Question 10 options
'Should' is correct because it expresses advice or recommendation in this context. 'Might' expresses possibility, 'would' requires a conditional clause, and 'could' expresses past ability or possibility but not a strong recommendation.
Q11 15

Question 11: Which statement about modal verbs is true?

Question 11 options
Modal verbs such as 'can', 'will', 'must', and 'should' are always followed by the base form (infinitive without 'to') of the main verb. They do not change form for third-person singular subjects and are not used alone as the main verb.
Q12 15

Question 12: Rewrite in the passive voice: 'The teacher explained the rule.' → The rule ___ by the teacher.

Question 12 options
'Was explained' is correct because to form the passive voice in the past simple, we use 'was/were' (the auxiliary 'be' in past tense) followed by the past participle. 'Explained' alone is missing the auxiliary, 'has been explained' is present perfect, and 'is explained' is present simple passive.
Q13 15

Question 13: Match each sentence to the correct grammar label.

Question 13 options
He is playing football in the garden.
I have already eaten dinner.
She must finish her report today.
Do you understand the question?
Auxiliary 'do' forming a question
Auxiliary 'have' forming present perfect
Auxiliary 'be' forming present continuous
Modal verb expressing obligation

Select an item on the left, then tap its match on the right.

Helping verbs serve different functions: 'be' forms continuous and passive structures, 'have' forms perfect tenses, 'do' forms questions and negatives, and modal verbs express meanings like ability or obligation.
Q14 15

Question 14: The verbs 'be', 'do', and 'have' can only be used as helping verbs, never as main verbs in a sentence.

Question 14 options
False because 'be', 'do', and 'have' can function as either main verbs or auxiliary verbs depending on the sentence. For example, 'I have a car' uses 'have' as a main verb, while 'I have finished' uses it as an auxiliary.
Q15 15

Question 15: Which sentence best expresses that something is possible but not certain?

Question 15 options
'She might come to the party later' is correct because 'might' expresses possibility without certainty. 'Will' expresses a definite future action, 'must' expresses obligation or strong certainty, and 'should' expresses advice or expectation.